Why Wait for the Foxhole Moment?

Let me begin this journal entry by posing a question:

Are we not being used by God in certain capacities, not because He doesn't want to, but because we have not yet equipped ourselves for "every good work," much less for some good work?

In my studies I once again had the opportunity to meditate upon a passage that the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy as part of his mentoring of this young pastor.  The passage is 2 Timothy 3:16-17

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It's Not Just for Preachers

This afternoon I was reading in the Apostle Paul's second letter to Pastor Timothy.  Timothy was a young man that had received a calling to ministry, and having responded to that call (and was pastoring a church), he maintained a mentoring relationship with Paul.

In 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul writes:

"Preach the word!  Be ready in season and out of season.  Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching."

What struck me this afternoon was this:

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Love is the Character of a Transformed Nature

What is love?  This is a question that has presented itself to me time and time again.  As a kid, I would always take things apart so that I could find out how they worked.  The electric train set - yep, I took it apart.  The radio - yep, that too.  If anything had two or more pieces, I would take it apart to see how it worked.

Likewise with the topic of love.  How does it work?  What fuels it?

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Real Love for Real Life

Recently I have been conducting an indepth study of 1 Corinthians 13, a chapter often refered to as "The Love Chapter."

Wow, what a chapter!

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A Friday Update After Katrina

Wow, the last several days have been amazingly sad to watch.  With the volume of news reporting that continues to be broadcast via the net, television, newspaper, and radio, it is kind of difficult to sit down and write anything that hasn't already been written, said, or seen.  So, I will leave the news and commentary to the numerous networks and bloggers that still feel the urge to write, report, and comment.

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How To Live Through A Bad Day

This little booklet will be like 'good medicine' for you when you run into a very bad day!  It is also an excellent resource for you and the help you might offer to a friend or family member that is going through a bad day.

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Who Are You REALLY Living For?

Let’s ask ourselves a few questions:  Who are we really living for?  Who does our life, character, and desire revolve around?  Who is the reason for the expenditure of our daily energy, and the object of our desire?

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Heart First, Appearance Second!

“… those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.”

2 Corinthians 5:12b

Should we care about what people see on the outside of our lives?

Sure – scripture even encourages us to put our best foot forward [as the modern-day saying goes]. (e.g. see 1 Peter 2:12).

However, there is a point at which this best foot forward does become wrong.

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When Is It Too Late?

So, when is it too late to call upon the Lord?

While I certainly do not (and I repeat, I DO NOT) encourage people to wait until the last possible moment to call upon the Lord, I do want to highlight the scripture that calls for everyone to call upon the Lord – even when the time looks like it is too late:

“Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying…

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Lydia's Opened Heart

"The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message."

Acts 16:14b

Quick question: What have you done with the heart-unlocking that Christ has provided to you?

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